Spacer



Sept. 11, 1928. 1,684,051

. F. w. ANDERSON I SPACER v Filed March 2, 1927 INVENTQR M/yaw Mum! 4-oewsou ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1 1,684,051 PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS WILLIAM ANDERSON, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

SPACER.

Application filed March 2, 1927. Serial No. 172,109.

The present invention relates to spacers used in concrete construction for interconnecting and spacing reinforcing elements. The principal object of the invention is to provide a spacer allowing two members arranged at right angles or at angles approximating right angles, to be fastened together, and to be firmly held against slipping; A further object of the invention is to provide a spacer of the character described that is very simple in construction, and may be made of a single piece of spring wire. A further object of the invention is to provide a self-locking feature in the spacer, allowing the same to grip one of the transverse elements under spring tension. Another object of the invention is to provide a spacer of the character described that may be made of any desired length for effecting a desired spacing between two parallel elements traversing a transverse element.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spacer of the character described that exercises a double grip on one of the transverse members whereby any tendency of the spacer to turn about the other member is counteracted, and whereby the spacer is firmly positioned. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 shows my spacer by itself in perspective view;

Figure 2 my spacer as applied to two transversely arranged elements;

Figure 3 a plurality of spacers arranged to hold several convolutions of a spiral to a vertical bracing element; and V Figure 4 a similar view to that of Figure 3, showing a slightly different use of the spacer.

lVhile I have shown only the preferred form of the invention I wish to have it understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims hereto attached, without. departing from the spirit of the invention. 7

In Figure 1 my spacer 1 is shown as comprising a piece of spring wire or rod terminating at opposite ends in parallel trans verse hooks 2 and 3, the hooks extending from the rod in the same direction. The extreme end of one of the hooks is turned over as shown at 4 to substantially parallel a body section of the rod 1. At a short distance from the hook 2 the rod is bent, as shown at 6, to provide a pocket 7, in which one of the members to be fastened may be accommodated.

In Figure 2 my spacer is shown in connection with two transverse bars 8 and 9 of angular cross section, one overlying the other as shown at 11. The hook 2 is guided to encircle the bottom and the side faces of the lower bar 8 in such a. manner that the upperbar 9 is accommodated in the pocket 7 and is held against movement in the direction of the bar 8, by the bent portion 6, while the bent extremity 4 of the hook rests on the upper face of the upper bar. The hook 3 is depressed and guided under the lower bar 8 at a distance from theupper bar 9, the elasticity of the material being such that the interlocking engagement of the hook 3 with the bar 8 firmly holds the spacer in place against movement in any direction. It will be noted that my spacer has a double grip on the upper bar 9 on opposite sides of the bar 8, namely at the bent body portion 6 forming the pocket 7 and at the extremity 4 so that the spacer is firmly held against turning motion around the bar 8.

In Figure 3 two spaced convolutions 12 and 13 of a spiral are shown as being fastened to an upright bar 14 by means of two spacers, one spacer being interlocked at its lower extremity 3 with the upper section of the adjacent spacer. It will be noted that in this form the hook 3 of the spacer is arranged below the convolution 13 to counteract a tendency of the convolutions of the spiral to separate.

In Figure 4 the spacers are arranged relative to the convolutions of a spiral in such a manner that the lower hook 3 of one spacer interlocks with the upper hook 2 of an adjacent spacer while remaining above the convolution of the spiral, so as to prevent contraction of the spiral. It will be noted that in both methods used in Figures 3 and 4 the convolutions of the spiral are fastened by means of these spacers to an upright bar in such a manner that the convolution is firmly fixed against slipping.

The spacer may be made of any length desired and may be used for the sole purpose of fixing one member to a transverse member, as shown in Figure 2, without any interlocking of two adjacent spacers. This manner of using the spacer is particularly adaptable for situations in which transverse members are arranged at considerable distance.

It will be understood that any, suitable material of any suitable gauge in accordance with the purposes for which the spacer is intended may be used. The spacer forms an individual unit and may be used alone or in interlocking relation with other spacers. The angle between the two recesses to be fastened need not be a right angle since my spacer has suiiicient elasticity and adapta bility to make its use available when the angle between the two recesses to be fastened' departs considerably 7 from a right angle.

I claim: 1

1. A spacer of the character" described comprising a rod formed with transverse red bent at one end to form a hook adapted to encircle the lowermost element with the adjacent body se'ction of the rod overlying the other-element and a hook at the other endof the rod adapted to be placed underthe'lowermost element'at' a distance from the other element, the rod being bent near the first v hook for confining the overlying element against motion along the other element'awa y from sai'd hook. v I

FRANCIS WVILLI'AM ANDERSON. 

